Locking cover



United States Patent O LOCKING COVER Charles H. Nehls, Detroit, Mich.,assignor to Wayne Metalcraft Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation ofIllinois Application April 12, 1955, Serial No. 500,765 4 Claims. (Cl.70-169) The present invention relates to improvements in locksubject tovariation, as will be appreciated. Integral with the cap body andprojecting axially downwardly within area surrounding by the integralskirt portion 11 is a hollow cylindrical boss 12 which defines a lockcylining covers, particularly for the gasoline tanks of auto-:Nl

mobiles.

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved lockingcap construction adapted to be secured upon a iiller neck of the typehaving an outwardly projecting locking flange.

It has become common, in the construction of autov mobiles, to locatethe gasoline ller neck and cap in a relatively confined recess in thecar body, and to construct the neck and an externally projecting flangefor engagement with the holding parts of a conventional, nonlocking derwithin which a conventional lock plug 14 is accommodated. The lock plugis shown as of the plate tumbler type, it key slot being accessible atthe top of the cap and shielded by a'pivoted dust cover 15. The detailsof the cylinder, plug and dust cover form no part of my presentinvention and are subject to variation. The plug is rotatably secured inthe cylinder in any suitable manner, as by a detent plate v16 and isprovided with integral nonconcentric lug-type actuating portions 18projecting downwardly from its lower end into holes 20 in a cup-shapedcam member 22. Y

The cam member 22 is, provided with a ilat bottom portion 24 extendingtransversely beneath the cylinder 12 and with a substantial cylindricalportion 25 extending cap. The recess is also frequently covered by adoor I provided with a spring which tends to close the door. When alocking cap is employed, it is of course necessary to manipulate the key`as well as to 'turnthe cap' itself,

and this ordinarily necessitates the use of both hands within the spaceafforded by the confined recess. Not only is this difficult in such aconfined space, but where the locking mechanism must engage an externalilange, it has been found ditiicult to encompass the necessary mechanismwithin a cap structure small enough to provide clearance between the capand the walls of the recess, to provide room for the hand and ngers tograsp the exterior of the cap and permit removal thereof.

It is accordingly an important object of this invention to provide animproved cap which is small in diameter, which is provided with lockbolts arranged to engage an I outwardly projecting flange, and thedimensions of which are such that the cap is little or no greater indiameter than a conventional nonlocking cap, and can easily beaccommodated, and manipulated, within the confined space provided forthe gasoline cap.

' Another object is to provide such a locking cap wherein, although thelock bolt means is located near the periphery and adapted to engage anexternal ange, such bolt means is effectively shielded againstlmanipulation by anyone who might attempt to pick the lock.

Another object is to provide such a locking cap which is neat inappearance and of simple, inexpensive but rugged construction. y y yOther objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponconsideration of the present disclosure in itsentirety.

yIn the drawing: t t

Figure l is a side elevational View of a cap constructed in accordancewith the present inventiong.

l' Fig. 2 is a bottom planview thereof, partly broken away; l

Fig. 3 is a cross section on a larger lscale,',taken substantially onthe line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows,showing the cap locked in position upon a fragmentarily illustratedliller neck;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view taken'substantially 4on the line 4-4 ofFig. 3, and looking in the direction of the arrows; o

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the,

upwardly around and rotatable with respect to the cylinder 12. At itsupper rim the cylindrical portion 25 carries two diametricallyopposedradially extending bolt actuating cam lobe portions 26, 28 and anintegral stop portion 30 whichlimits the angular rotation of the ca rncup vand the lock cylinder.

The cam cup 22 is retained in position by a retaining f member generallydesignated .32 having a central cupshaped portion somewhat larger thanand nested over the cam cup, the cup portion of the retaining member consisting of a flat bottom portion 33 and a cylindrical wall 34. From therim of the cylindrical wall 34 an integral upper at portion 35 extendsoutwardly to a position near but spaced from the skirt 11, where it isprovided with an integral downturned cylindrical skirt 36 concentricwith skirt 11. The retainer 32 is rigidly positioned with respect to thecap body by a pair of screws 38 which extend through suitable holes(undesignated) in the flat portion 35 into suitably tapped bosses 40which may be cast integrally with and project downwardly from the insideof the top of the capbody. When so secured in position, the cuppedportion of the retainer is concentric with but slightly spaced from thecupped portion of cam 22, and the skirt 36 is concentric with but spacedfrom skirt 11. The cam cup is provided with an axially positioneddownwardly lextending bearing boss portion 42 which projects into anaxial bearing hole 44 inthe at bottom portion 33 of the retainer. Abowed leaf spring 45 is also provided between the ilat bottom portions24-33 of the cam cup and retainer, urging the cam upwardly andpreventing rattling. l

The internal diameter of the retainer skirt portion 36 is such as toclear but to lit relatively closely around the periphery of theoutturned ange as 46 of filler necks, as 48, of the type the cap isyintended to fit. Such filler necks are also customarilyprovided withdiametrically opposed notches, as 50, 52, extending inwardly from theperiphery, to provide clearance for downwardly and inwardly return-bentholding fingers which are provided on conventional nonlocking caps, andwhich act like bayonet lock means to removably hold such nonlockingcaps, by cooperation with inclined depending skirt walls, as 54, on theperiphery of the filler neck ange 52. My improved locking cap mechanismdoes not coact with such inclined depending walls 54, but with theoutturned or at neck iiange 46 in the areas .of thenotches 50, 52.-Thefskirt 36 of the retainer carries rigidly afixed to its lower edge -apair of diametrically opposed lugs 55 which project inwardly far enoughso that the space between them is less than the maximum diameter. o fthe filler neck flange-46 except in the areas of the notches 50, 52through which such lugs are proportioned, and positioned, to it. Thusthe cap can only be applied to the filler neck by orienting it so thelugs 55 pass through the notches Sil- 52. Directly above each of thelugs 55, a vertical slot 56 is provided extending entirely through theskirt wall 36 and also extending radially inwardly part way through theHat upper portion 35 of the retainer. A pair of latch bolts areprovided, each generally designated 58, each having a supporting portion62 retained between the top of the cap and the tlat web 35 of theretainer and'radially slidable therebetween. Each `bolt has a downwardlyextending arm 61 movable through `the slot 56 and an inwardly andupwardly turned terminal holding portion 60 adapted to underlie theoutturned ange portion 46 of the ller neck, in one of the notched areas,lto hold the cap in position, as shown in Fig. 3. It will be seen thatthe slots t), 52 only extend inwardly about half the radial distance ofthe flange 46, and that when the bolts are moved outwardly to thereleased positioning shown in Fig. 6, the hooked retaining portions as6U thereof, although still extending part way into the notch, clear theflange, in the notched area, so that the cap can be removed. As shown inFigs. 3 and 6, the supporting portion 62 of each bolt extends inwardlydirectly over and in slidable engagement vwith the Hat top wall 35 ofthe retainer. At its inner extremity, the flat portion 62 of each boltis provided with an upturned lug portion 64 which extends into andsubstantially lls the cross section of a radially extending partlycylindrical slot 65 formed in the undersurface of the top of the capbody. The uppersurface of the at portion 62 of the latch member 5S isalso provided with a partly cylindrical slot 66 which coacts with theslot portion 65 to enclose a helical compression spring 68 housed insuch slot portions and bearing outwardly against the ilat outer wallportion 73 of the slot 65 and urging the latch member radially inwardlytoward the latched position.

The upper extremity or rim portion of the cam cup 22 projects into thespace between the lugs 64 and the wall of cylinder 12 so that when thecup 22 is turned by means of the lock plug the cam lobes 26, 28 may bearoutwardly against the lugs 64 to move .the latch bolt members 58outwardly to the released position. The areas of the rim of the cup 22,between the lobes 26, which engage the lugs 64 when the bolts are in thelocked position, may be flattened, as indicated at 29, as well asreduced in diameter, so that the springs '68 tend to turn the cam cupand lock plug to the locked position, as well as to project the boltsinwardly into holding underengagement with the ller neck ange.

The iimits of angular travel of the actuating cam cup and lock plug aredefined by an arm 30 cast integrally with the rim of the cam cup 22 andwhich bears against a corner 67 dened by a relieved portion of the capdetining a bolt guideway 69 when the cam is in the locked position, asshown in full lines in Fig. 4, and against an integral stop lug 72depending interiorly from the top of the cap body, when in the releasedposition, as shown in broken lines.

A sealing gasket is provided which is preferably formed of relativelysoft synthetic rubber, and which includes a cylindrical sleeve portion'74 fitted on the exterior of the cylindrical central cupped portion 34of the retainer, and an annular pad portion 7S adapted to engage andbear downwardly against the top of the iiller neck when the cap is inplace. The annular pad portion 75 is joined to the sleeve portion 74 byan upwardly and inwardly inclined section 76 which is conic whenrelaxed, as shown in Fig. 6, but deformed upwardly by the imparting ofan annular wave thereto, as shown in Fig, 3, when the cap is presseddownwardly to the locked position. The material of the seal, in theconic section '76 thereof, may be resilient enough to act as a spring,tending to push the cap upwardly to free the latch bolts and assistremoval of the cap, when the bolts are moved outwardly. The seal isretained by a metallic washer 77 which is in turn held by stakingoutwardly portions as '78 of the cup Sectio-n of the retainerover whichthe washer is litted.

The inner ends of the hooked holding portions 66 of the bolt members maybe inclined as indicated at Sti, so that the latch bolts are cammedoutwardly when the cap is forced downwardly into position. Thus the keyis not required in order to attach the cap.

The lug portions 55 project inwardly below the latch bolts, and topositions relatively close to the filler neck.

The skirt 36 of the retainer is provided at its lower extremity with anintegral outwardly extending flange 32 which projects substantially toengagement with the inner wall of yskirt 11. The ange 82 is notinterrupted in the areas of the slots 56, and such flange, and the lugs55, accordingly shield the` latch bolts and effectively preventunauthorized manipulation thereof from the outside by anyone attemptingto pick the lock.

It is common to provide an air vent for the tank by deforming a portionof the filler neck, including the ange 46, in the area of one of thepreviously mentioned slots as 50, as best shownin Fig. 5. In theconstruction illustrated, a generally V-'shaped depression 85 isprovided in the ller neck flange 46, such depression being centered withrespect to the slot 50. The upwardly hooked retaining portions 60 of thelatch bolts are centrally relieved by the formation of notchlike cutoutor vkerfed areas 86 therein;v Thus in whichever of the twodiametrica'lly reversed positions the cap is applied to the iiller neck,the kerfed area of one of the bolts will straddle the depressed angeportion whichdetines the notch 85, to properly secure the cap.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the inventionherein described is well calculated to fulfill the objects andadvantages rst above stated, it will be appreciated that the inventionis susceptible to variation, modification and change without departingfrom the fair meaning and proper scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a locking cap construction for a ller neck or the like havingoutwardly projecting abutment areas adapted to serve as latch keepermeans, a cap body, a hollow lock cylinder boss portion rigidily carriedby and extending downwardly with respect to said body, a lock cylinderplug mounted in said boss portion, an actuating portion carried by saidplug, an actuating cam embracing and rotatable upon said boss portionand operatively interengaged with and adapted to be actuated by saidactuating portion, a retainer including a cup-shaped portion extendingaround said actuating cam and fixed with respect to said body, said cambeing rotatable between said boss portion and said cup-shaped portion,bolt means including a part slidably Vsupported between said body andretainer and extending outwardly above said cup-shaped portion andincluding another part extending downwardly in a position to lie outsideone of said abutment areas, and cam lobe means carried by an upperportion of said cam member and engageable with said bolt means toactuate the latter.

2. In a locking cap construction for a filler -neck or the like havingoutwardly projecting abutment areas adapted to serve as latch keepermeans, a cap body having a hollow generally cylindrical downwardlyextending boss adapted to serve as a cylinder for a lock plug, a lockcylinder plug mounted in said boss, an actuating portion carried by saidplug and exposed at the bottom of said boss, a cup-shaped actuating camembracing and rotatable upon said boss and operatively interengaged withand adapted to be :actuated by said actuating portion, a retainerincluding a cup-shaped portion nestedly overtted upon said actuatingcam, said retainer being fixed with respect to said body to define arigid assembly therewith, said cam being rotatable between said boss andsaid cupshaped portion, bolt means including a part slidably supportedbetween said body and retainer and extending outwardly above saidcup-shaped portion and including another part extending downwardly in aposition to lie outside one of said abutment areas, and cam meanscarried by an upper portion of said cup-shaped cam member and engageablewith said bolt means to actuate the latter, said body portion beingprovided with a skirtlike peripheral ange extending downwardly aroundand spaced outwardly from said intertted portions, and an innerskirtlike ilange carried by said retainer and extending downwardlysubstantially parallel to said peripheral flange, said bolt means beingmovable in a substantially radial path through an opening in saidretainer and inner skirtlike flange.

3. In a locking cap construction for a iiller neck or the like havingoutwardly projecting abutment areas adapted to serve as latch keepermeans, a cap body having a hollow generally cylindrical downwardlyextending boss adapted to serve as a cylinder for a lock plug, a lockcylinder plug mounted in said boss, an actuating portion carried by saidplug and exposed at the bottom of said boss, a cup-shaped actuating camembracing and rotatable upon said boss and operatively interengaged withand adapted to be actuated by said actuating portion, a cupshapedretainer portion nestedly overiitted upon said actuating cam and xedwith respect to said body, said cam being rotatable between said bossand said cup-shaped retainer portion, bolt means including a partslidably supported between said body and retainer portion and anotherpart extending outwardly above said retainer portion and thencedownwardly in a position to lie outside one of said abutment areas, andcam means carried by a upper portion of said cup-shaped cam member andengageable with said bolt means to actuate the latter, said body portionbeing provided with a skirtlike peripheral fiange extending downwardlyaround and spaced outward ly from said intertted portion, and a secondskirtlike flange carried by said retainer and extending downwardlytherefrom substantially parallel to but spaced inwardly from said rstmentioned skirtlike ange, said bolt means being movable in asubstantially radial path through an opening which extends through saidretainer and through said second skirtlike flange, and wall portionssubstantially joining the lower free extremities of said skirtlike angesand preventing access to said bolt means through the space between saidskirtlike anges.

d. A locking cover construction as dened in claim 2 intended for usewith a iiller neck or the like having abutment areas as defined andhaving rim flange portions extending radially outwardly beyond saidabutment areas on opposite sides of said abutment areas, and keyingportions carried by said assembly defined by said retainer and body andadapted to pass through the space between said radially extending angeportions and preventing f1tting the cover over the neck except in apredetermined orientation, said bolt means being aligned with saidkeying portions.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS1,006,944 Holdridge Oct. 24, 1911 1,87 8,436 Burroughs Sept. 20, 19322,681,559 Friend June 22, 1954 2,696,100 Nehls Dec. 7, 1954 2,733,831Nehls Feb. 7, 1956

